Explore Steamboat, Mount Werner home to summer leisure

Mount Werner home to summer leisure

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Sipping martinis while watching the sun set is among the many ways to enjoy the summer at Mount Werner.

The Hazie’s Sunset Martini Bar at Thunderhead might be the ideal destination after hiking or mountain biking some of the 50 miles of trails on the ski mountain.

The martini bar opens at 7 p.m. Saturdays. Adults pay $12 for their first drink and a trip up the Gondola.

Following cocktails, visitors may sit down to a three-course meal at Hazie’s restaurant. Seating for the Saturday dinner is between 7 and 8 p.m. Dinner prices are $49 for adults, $35 for teenagers and $16 for youths.

Hazie’s also offers lunches on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu features a la carte items including sandwiches, salads and full bar.

The Oasis Sundeck at Thunderhead, open from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, offers more casual meals. The grill is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Perhaps the most famous dining experience on Mount Werner is Brunch with a New Orleans inspired buffet on the Mountain, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday in the Champagne Powder Room at Thunderhead. The meal is $32 for adults, $28 for teenagers and $18 for youths.

To work up an appetite, visitors can enjoy well-marked hiking and mountain bike trails.

Bike rentals are available at Ride Sports in Gondola Square. The store also carries Digglers or all mountain scooters. Mountain biking passes are $8 and a gondola ticket must be purchased.

Gondola tickets are good for the day and are $18 for adults, $13 for teenagers and $8 for children six to 12 years old.

The Gondola will open for the weekend June 9-11. Daily operations will begin June 16 and run through Aug. 27.

Labor Day Weekend operations will be Sept. 1 through Sept. 4.

After Labor Day Weekend the Gondola will be open weekends only, on Saturday and Sunday, through Sept. 24.

The hours of operation are uphill 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with the last download at 4:30 p.m. Sundays will open at 9:30 a.m.

Gondola tickets are valid all day, weather permitting. Tickets are available at the Main Ticket Office or Ride Sports.

Yampatika offers several free interpretive hikes for visitors interested in learning about wildlife and fauna on the mountain.

The easy Vista Nature Trail Hike is a 1-mile loop trail starting at the top of the gondola. Tours are given on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon.

The Gondola Square Adventure Zone will return this summer with the sling shot bungee jump, climbing wall, nature den, a children’s mini bounce and the 18-hole Giggle Gulch mini golf course.

The Summer Shoot and Splash is a basketball game that dumps water on the loser. Activity tickets are $3. Each activity requires a certain number of tickets.

The Adventure Zone is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. It also may be rented for private parties.

For more information on summer activities, go to www.steamboat.com or call 1-877-237-2628.